The beloved Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver and McLaren F1 Reserve driver, Pato O’Ward, invites us to explore his favorite places and hot spots around Mexico City.
The reception Pato O’Ward received at the Mexican Grand Prix might make one think the 25-year-old was lining up on the F1 grid alongside Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Instead, the Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver has resonated so strongly with motorsport fans in his home country that he receives a hero’s welcome upon arrival in Mexico City.
His promotion to McLaren reserve driver and the announcement that he’ll drive during FP1 at this weekend’s race have only heightened the excitement around the Monterrey-born athlete. We caught up with O’Ward earlier this month to discover some of his must-visit recommendations in Mexico’s capital.
Eat
O’Ward has one rule for tacos: street vendors are king. “Any taco stand you see on the street will be good,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what the name is or what they sell, any street taco stand will be phenomenal.” His go-to order? “Tacos al pastor,” O’Ward said, adding that he also enjoys gorditas with beans and cheese.
For a more traditional dining experience, O’Ward shared two of his favorite spots. “There’s a restaurant called Sylvestre, which is wonderful,” he said of the rooftop hot spot. “There’s also a restaurant called La Unica, which has very, very good Mexican food.”
Drink
O’Ward isn’t a big drinker, but there’s one beverage he recommends to anyone visiting Mexico. “In any restaurant you go to, after your meal, order a carajillo,” he said. The cocktail is a simple concoction traditionally made from a Spanish liqueur called Licor 43 and a shot of espresso.
“It’s wonderful. It’s kind of like an espresso martini, but Latin style because they have them in Brazil and Argentina as well,” he explained. “I highly recommend trying it in pretty much any restaurant.”
Explore
When O’Ward isn’t at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, he spends most of his time in Polanco. This opulent, artistic neighborhood boasts art galleries, luxury shopping, and high-end restaurants in the city’s northwest.
“You can actually walk around and not feel like you have to be looking everywhere,” he said. “I don’t leave that area, to be honest. I just go to the track and then walk around Polanco and go to the restaurants. There are probably concerts and parties going on, but I like my nine hours of sleep too much, so I don’t really go out.”
Although O’Ward prioritizes his rest, he revealed he’s also a fan of the nearby Soho House, which opened last September. “It’s a beautiful facility. I recently ran into Peso Pluma there,” he said of the 25-year-old singer and rapper. “There are a lot of Mexican celebrities you might run into.”
Travel
For F1 fans with some extra time, O’Ward recommends heading west to the pristine sandy beaches of the private peninsula, Punta Mita. “It’s beautiful, and a very peaceful, very nice area,” he said. “It’s a bit like Cabo [San Lucas] but less touristy.”
Source: Motor Sport
